1839 United States Cent Value

A 1839 United States Cent is worth roughly its melt value to well into four figures depending on its condition. Certified examples in top grades can run far higher.

Public domain image (struck or printed before 1926). Click to enlarge.

1839 United States Cent value by grade

1839 United States Cent value by grade
GradeEstimated value

Estimated retail range. Estimates are modeled from mintage rarity and metal content, not auction records. Actual sale prices vary with certification, eye appeal and market timing.

What is a 1839 United States Cent worth right now?

Pricing for the 1839 United States Cent depends on grade and current collector demand.

1839 United States Cent specifications

Series
United States Coinage
Year
1839
Mint mark
None (Philadelphia)
Mintage
Not recorded
Composition
Copper
Weight
10.764 g

No mint mark? Here is why

Philadelphia struck the 1839 United States Cent, and Philadelphia coins of this period carry no mint mark at all. An empty space at the usual mint mark position (see the series guide) confirms a Philadelphia strike, not a flaw.

Where this coin's value comes from

Documented examples of the 1839 United States Cent in our reference database anchor what we know about this issue. Mintage records are incomplete, so collector demand and surviving population drive its market.

Documented United States coin types preserved in museum collections, with measured specifications for each date, denomination and mint. For the 1839 United States Cent, the enduring popularity of the series translates directly into buyers in every grade and every market cycle.

1839 United States Cent inscriptions & design

Obverse

************* 1839

Liberty Coronet Head, l.

Reverse

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA; ONE CENT

wreath

Measured 1839 United States Cent specimens

12 physically measured 1839 United States Cent examples in our reference database. Real measured weights and die axes let you authenticate a coin against the 10.764 g, mm minting standard.

Measured 1839 United States Cent specimens
SpecimenWeightDiameterDie axisReferences
1839 United States Cent #110.764 g---
1839 United States Cent #2---Newcomb.1839.2, Breen.1871
1839 United States Cent #3---Breen.1873, Newcomb.1839.12
1839 United States Cent #4---Newcomb.1839.1, Breen.1870
1839 United States Cent #5---Newcomb.1839.1.2, Breen.1870
1839 United States Cent #6---Newcomb.1839.1.3, Breen.1870
1839 United States Cent #7---Newcomb.1839.2, Breen.1871
1839 United States Cent #8---Newcomb.1839.3, Breen.1871
1839 United States Cent #9---Newcomb.1839.4, Breen.1872
1839 United States Cent #10---Breen.1873, Newcomb.1839.5
1839 United States Cent #11---Breen.1873, Newcomb.1839.6
1839 United States Cent #12---Breen.1873, Newcomb.1839.7

Specifications compiled from documented museum specimens. See our data & methodology page.